Written by

Mariel Gaetano

Staff Writer

Ability 1st, the Center for Independent Living of North Florida, has aided the Panhandle’s disabled individuals since the 1970s. Since then, Ability 1st has continued to make it their priority to provide services for individuals with disabilities, free of cost.

“Because we are community-based, what makes it so important and what makes us very unique is that we respond to our community based on the gaps and services that are here, and we can adapt our programs for people with disabilities,” said Ability 1st executive director Judith Barrett.

Ability 1st does all they can to make the living conditions of underprivileged citizens as comfortable for them as possible. By doing so, those with disabilities have the ability to live an independent lifestyle as much as possible.

Ability 1st offers services for those of all ages and a wide range of disabilities. The accessibility services are meant to aid those living an easier life.

Such services include the construction of wheelchair ramps, loans of durable medical equipment, and provision of disposable medical supplies, as stated on the official website, Ability1st.info.

“These types of services are pretty immediate and make a huge difference in somebody’s level of independence,” said Barrett.

The Crime Victims Assistance program is another service that was developed for individuals with disabilities who have been victims of crime, or victims that have been disabled due to being affected by crime. This service provides victims with counseling if needed, and assists in criminal justice, by securing rights, remedies and financial assistance.

Ability 1st also makes it a priority to educate those that are not familiar with their organization or the importance of providing services to those with disabilities. By doing so, Ability 1st has a community education service that provides Disability Awareness and Sensitivity Training by means of interactive experiences.

For those that are hearing impaired, the organization has deaf services by providing sign language instruction, as well as advocacy for the hearing impaired individual.

Another program provided to disabled individuals are those without homes through the supportive housing/leasing assistance service. This service is available for those, who most prominently suffer from mental health disorders or co-occurring illnesses, so they have a place to live. Currently, Ability 1st has over 47 housing slots available for living.

Ability 1st provides programs for those with disabilities that are in transitional periods in their life, both including the youth transitioning into adulthood, and adults and elders transitioning out of nursing homes, provided that they are well enough to live on their own. Both programs help in assisting and planning out these transitions.

Due to all of the services being free, Ability 1st relies heavily on volunteers for construction and resources for such services as providing wheelchair ramps, as well as donations and materials. Although Ability 1st does all they can to provide for those in need, relying on donations poses problems.

“It is certainty challenging because with all the resources in the community being stretched, we’re having difficulty raising the dollars that we need,” said Barrett. “The staff here work very hard and do the best they can do, but we certainty face challenges of not having enough money to assist people when they need it.”

As a way of funding services, Ability 1st holds events throughout the year as a way of fundraising and spreading the word about the community.

A large success was the first annual Tallahassee Bike Fest by Ability 1st which was held on Dec. 1. All the proceeds went directly to these services that aid individuals within the community.

Revenue made from Florida’s only specialty license plate for bikers, the Biker’s Care Tag, went directly back to organizations like Ability 1st.

“We created this event as a way for us to tell the bikers about the biker tag and how important it is to us that they buy it,” said Barrett. “It’s been in place for almost ten years now, but there are so few bikers that actually know there is a specialty tag.”This event helped raise money that will continue to help disabled individuals, and due to its success, Ability 1st plans to continue the Bike Fest event in the future.

The staff of Ability 1st works hard together to do all they can to help those in need. Barrett states that the best part is being able to do things that make the difference for those with disabilities.

“I think the coolest thing about what we do is that we can make it happen right now,” said Barrett. “If somebody needs something, we’re going to figure out a way to make it happen.”